Towar: Clawson mayor honored for community involvement

Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs, left, and resident Iole LeTissier share the Clawson Chamber of Commerce Business Community Involvement Award at Clawson's recent State of the City breakfast. (Submitted photo)

Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs wears many hats, so March 20 was just another day at the office in her “little city with a big heart.”

Mayor Luebs delivered the State of the City address to a breakfast crowd gathered in the community room of Clawson City Hall, then later returned to the podium to accept the Clawson Chamber of Commerce Business Community Involvement Award.

Chamber board member John Chisholm, who shared emcee duties with Mike Auger, said, “It’s wonderful to recognize Penny outside her role as mayor.”

“There’s not an event I go to that Penny’s not there,” said Clawson Chamber president Char Larson. “She gets excited if it’s something for the city or about helping people.”

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Luebs was first elected mayor in 2007, after serving on Clawson City Council for four years. Her interest in politics arose from a problem in her neighborhood she wanted to be sure didn’t happen to someone else.

“Somebody has to step up and make sure quality of life issues are addressed, so we can enjoy living in our neighborhoods,” she said.

Luebs did more than just step up; she began listening to residents.

When she received a call from Clawson residents Tierney Keyes and Travis Cochran, asking why Clawson didn’t have a farmers market, Luebs met with both neighbors. The result was the popular Clawson Farmers Market, which opened four years ago in Clawson’s City Park at Bywood and West Elmwood avenues.

You can find Luebs there at 7:30 every Sunday morning, from July 14 to Sept. 29 this year, making sure everything is running smoothly. The market will also be open for Flower Day on Sunday, May 19. Keyes moved away, but Luebs, Cochran, and Clawson Chamber Executive Director Mary Sames still serve on the Farmers Market committee.

Clawson residents Lisa and Mathew Ball called Luebs and said, “Let’s do something to bring more art into Clawson.”

That call resulted in what is now the Clawson Cultural Foundation, which is planning a dinner theater mystery party for Saturday, April 20; the Melodies Clash in Clawson band competition for Sunday, May 19; young writers and photography contests; and the annual Clawson Arts & Authors Festival on Sept. 8. Go online to elevatethearts.vpweb.com for details.

Luebs started the Clawson Food Pantry, which is open the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the basement of Grace Apostolic Church at 700 E. Elmwood Ave. Twenty-six families are currently being helped anonymously.

Because the pantry has passed health inspections, it can get food from Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest. Food donation boxes are available in Clawson City Hall, 425 N. Main St., Hunter Community Center, 509 Fisher Court, and at local businesses.

Luebs is now looking at starting a community garden at the request of several residents. And she has brought interns from Oakland Community College and Wayne State University into the community to talk with various residents and groups to assess community needs.

“That really is how things work in Clawson – neighbors helping neighbors,” said Luebs, who is quick to point out that she is not alone in doing good things for the city, but works with many volunteers. “I love the ideas. I love the creativity.

“Part of my job is being responsive to people in the community, so when someone calls or emails me, we generally meet for coffee, and ideas develop from there.”

Clawson residents can call their mayor at 248-259-6208 or email her at pluebs@cityofclawson.com.

As mayor, Luebs is paid only $850 per year, so she works as a social worker for Easter Seals. “I absolutely love working in a helping profession and being part of the growth process, so that people can live a good life,” she said.

Luebs is the divorced mother of five children ranging in age from 13 to 40, and the grandmother of eight. Like their mother, the four adult children work in helping professions: state trooper, registered nurse, prison guard and medic/firefighter.

In this busy lady’s spare time, she is a member of the Clawson Optimist Club, serves on the Clawson Fourth of July committee, and chairs the South Oakland County Mayors Association. She walks in the American Cancer Society’s Clawson Relay of Life with a different community team every year. This year’s Relay of Life is May 18.

She is also chairperson and family recreation director for Clawson Youth Assistance, which is taking nominations for Youth Recognition Awards to be given May 8. Go online to cityofclawson.com and search for Youth Assistance for a nomination form, or email heather.kotz@clawson.k12.mi.us.

Youth Assistance encourages positive family activities with programs like the Halloween Trick or Treat Trail, and trips to Detroit Tigers games and Red Oaks Waterpark.

I can attest to Luebs’ role as number one cheerleader for Clawson, as I often open my email to find messages from her, asking that I write about something happening in her city.

Luebs shared the Business Community Involvement Award with Iole LeTissier, who has served on Clawson’s Blair Memorial Library Board for 13 years and in many capacities in her church.

Food donations needed

The Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, will collect nonperishable food items during April as part of the Food for Thought Campaign, a regional effort to offset the post-holiday decline in emergency food availability.

For more information, go online to ropl.org or call 248-246-3700.

Succulent gardening in containers

Judy Cornellier from Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy will present a free program to the Ferndale Garden Club on succulent container gardening at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois Road in Ferndale.

Guests are always welcome. For more information, call 248-541-6427.

StoryTellers Guild fundraiser

A luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at The Community House, 380 S. Bates St. , is the Birmingham StoryTellers Guild’s only fundraiser for the year.

Ben Sapp, director of the Mazza Museum in Findley, Ohio, specializing in original art by illustrators of children’s books, will display original art and show a video.

Book Beat will be there selling books featuring Mazza illustrators, and there will be an auction of original art.

Tickets are $30 and can be reserved by calling Carlotta Blue at 248-554-6594 or going online to tchserves.org. Event proceeds will be used to purchase books for the classrooms the StoryTellers visit.

Stop smoking to breathe free

Smokers can sign up for a seven day Breathe Free Smoking Cessation Workshop presented by the Royal Oak Community Coalition from 7:30 to 9 a.m. beginning Friday, April 19, then Monday through Friday April 22 through 26, and concluding Monday, April 29, at the Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave. in Royal Oak.

Space is limited, so call 248-546-7622 to register soon. The workshop is free and open to everyone, regardless of residence.

Stars Guitars benefit for Beaumont

A gourmet strolling dinner and concert by the Little River Band will highlight the Beaumont Foundation’s annual Stars Guitars event on Saturday, April 20.

Silent and live auctions will feature guitars signed by popular musicians and musical groups, such One Direction, Rush, Kenny Rogers, Emerson Drive, Hall & Oates, Bruno Mars, Lady Antebellum and many more.

Proceeds support the Charles A. Main, M.D. Pediatric Cancer Survivor Scholarship Fund of Beaumont Hospitals. In addition to providing college scholarships to cancer survivors, health grants will be awarded to Beaumont’s Pediatric Oncology Long Term Follow-Up Clinic.

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for patrons, and can be purchased by calling 248-551-9887 or online at starsguitars.org.

Have news about your club, organization or interesting individuals in Southeast Oakland County you would like to share with the community? Email Jeanne Towar at jeanne.towar@gmail.com or call 248-890-8370.